Improvement in camera-stands



'ITNITFD STATES PATENT OFFFca FRANCIS M. SPENCER, OF MANSFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAMERA-STANDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,038, dated June 29, 1875; application filed December 22, 1874.

CASE A.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. SPENCER, of Mansfield, Tioga county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a Camera-Stand, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a stand for the support of a camera for photographic or similar purposes, so as to render the manipulation and management of the instrument more rapid and secure from trembling or displacement, and for this purpose there arises from a base, A, a hollow pier, B,

which is firmly attached to the base A. Within the pier is a hollow stem, 0, which is made to fill the pier, but not so tight as to hinder its freely sliding up and down. The hollow stem is slotted a part of its length from the bottom upward, in order to pass over a'shaft, D, which passes through, and has its bearings in and near, the upper end of the pier. On the shaft D is a pulley, E, which is within the hollow stem, Attached to the pulley is a belt or strap, F, which is also fastened at the bottom ofthe stem, at or near its center. On

the outer end of the shaft D is a coiled spring,.

G, and drum H. There is a handle, I, which also acts as a fastening-pin, and passes on through the drum in position to slide into corresponding holes in the side of the pier, so

that when the spring is wound up the handle or pin may be slid into any of the corresponding holes in the pier thus holding the drum, and allowing the spring to act on the shaft and pulley, which winds the belt or strap on the face of the pulley, and consequently lifts up the stem and its contents, and enables the operator to easily adjust the spring, so as to balance the weight of the instrument used on the stand. In order to fasten the stem firmly at any point, there is a thumbscrew, K, and gib, l, by which the flat side of the gib is made to press against the stem, and hold it firm without bruising or marring its S\ face. On the top of the hollow stem is a cap, M, which in length corresponds to the Width of the table or top of the stand. At each end of the cap is attached metal pieces or standards, N Through the cap and these metal pieces is a small bolt-hole. At the upper end of these pieces N is a small hole to admit a screw or pin, forming an axis on which the table or top of stand. is made to tilt.

Attached to the table 0 are also two other ened to the sides of the table or top, having- ,the center of the circles to correspond with the pin or screws on which the table tilts, so that by loosening the thumb-nut S the table can be tilted, and by tightening up the thumbnut the table is made fast and firmly held in any position the operator may desire. Near the front of the table or top is fitted a hook or L-shaped piece, T, one arm of which passes down through the table, and is provided with a thumb-nut, U, by means of which the camera or instrument may be quickly and securely fastened to the table, which is of great use in, or while, drawing the slide to expose the plate in the instrument.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A camera-stand having an adjustable standard composed of the pieces B and O, the one sliding within the other, and provided with a spring G, shaft D, pulley E, and strap F, all arranged as described, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a camera-stand constructed substantially as 'described, the adjustable table or rest- O, supported on the standards N N and provided with the slotted half-circles P, thumb-screw S, bolt R, and hook T, substantially as specified, and for the purposes set forth.

FRANCIS M. SPENCER.

Witnesses:

J. W. ADAMS, WM. HoLLANns. 

